Abstract:
Background: palliative care is part of everyday practice for health care professionals. Moreover, Palliative care provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms; affirms life and regards dying as a normal process; and intends neither to hasten nor postpone death. Also, palliative care integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care; offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death; and offers a support system to help the family cope during the patient‘s illness and in their own bereavement. Therefore, critical care nurses must be trained to provide expert and advanced care in critical care units. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of implementing a designed intervention palliative care program on critical care nurses' knowledge and practice. Methods: A quasi experimental research design was utilized and the study was conducted on 30 critical care nurses at the Medical and Surgical Intensive Care Units of Oncology Center at Mansoura University Hospitals. Investigator designed an intervention program based on review of the related literature and was divided into theoretical content and practical skills. Theoretical content were focused on the following sessions: pain and symptoms control, psychological, social, spiritual, religious and cultural aspects of care, care of the imminently dying Patient, and ethical aspects of care. While practical sessions were focused on the following sessions: pain assessment, comfort measures for pain and symptoms relief, general strategies for psychological support, communication skills in ICU, care after death and strategies to deal with loss and grief. Results: The results of the present study indicated that a highly statistical significant difference P=0.000 were found between total score of knowledge and total score of practice of CCNs in relation to pre /post program and pre /two months post program implementation. While there was a statistical significant difference P=0.04 regarding total score of knowledge as compared to a highly statistical significant difference P=0.000 regarding total score of practice in relation to post and two months post program implementation. Conclusion: Knowledge provides an organized body of information that is factual; it provides a foundation of correct principles and concepts. Application of this knowledge develops and enhances nursing skills.